Career Story: First Grade Teacher In A Suburban School District

First Grade Teacher In A Suburban School District

Previous Experience: I have taught 1st and 2nd grade over the past twenty years and am currently teaching first grade.

Job Tasks: My primary responsibility is running a first grade classroom. I also am responsible for a boy with cerebral palsy this year. He is confined to a wheelchair and cannot speak. He uses a Dynavox to communicate. He also uses the computer for writing. However, he only can use one finger to type. He can not pick things up or write with markers or crayons.

I am in charge of reading groups, daily math lessons, science, social studies, and a writing curriculum. We try to integrate all our units in the curriculum areas.

Our day starts out with quiet reading at seats, 9:00 calendar, morning meeting, Morning Message (a letter to class), followed by Handwriting and journal free-write, where kids draw a picture and write a caption of 2-3 sentences to go with the picture. After this there's a quiet period, then Title 1 reading groups, Literacy centers (such as Listening, poetry corner, computers making words, building sentences using magnet words.) Later on, we have a phonics lesson or science or social studies, with whole group of students on a rug. Recess is followed by lunch, then from 12:35-1:20 "prep" children go to specials, including computer, gym, art, music, computer. 1:20-1:30 drinks bathroom 1:30-2:15 Everyday Math 2:20-2:30 pass out papers and get ready to go home. At 2:35 the children go home. Homework is given every night. The schedule changes as we progress in the year. Handwriting lasts until Jan. Afterwards that time slot is given to more units of study.

Best and Worst Parts of the Job: The best part of the job is working with the children. The children are usually very happy and enjoy coming to school. They get excited about all lessons and projects we do through out the year.

The worst part about the job is having to deal with DSS. It is extremely frustrating working with some families and trying to get them help!

Job Tips:1.) Take many reading courses in college.

2.) Make sure you are organized!!!!

3.) Take a few behavior management classes.

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